Barker scores Barker during Post 20 winCABOT — Jacob Barker’s RBI double to score his younger brother Joel Barker gave the Russellville American Legion Post 20 Patriots the go-ahead run in the ninth inning of their 7-3 win over Cabot on Tuesday. The game, which was scheduled for seven innings, was pushed to nine innings when Barker again scored Barker to tie the game at 3. The win was the Patriots’ second straight, after opening the season 1-2. “We’re starting to get a little chemi...

Cyclones hire two new coachesThe Russellville School Board called a special meeting Tuesday and hired two new coaches — one of which should be quite a familiar name to longtime Cyclones baseball fans. The school board voted to hire Will McCrotty as head baseball coach and Matt Hall as head basketball coach. McCrotty is the son of Denny McCrotty, who coached the Cyclones baseball team throughout the 1980s. Denny is credited for restarting the Russellville baseball program ...

RHS volleyball says goodbye to ‘biggest fan’There’ll be an empty seat inside Russellville High School’s new gymnasium when the Lady Cyclones volleyball team embarks on their 2015 season — one that can’t properly be filled even if someone were to choose to sit in it. It’s the seat that Lady Cyclones head coach Cindy Jones’ mother, Shirley Helton, has sat in since 2000. At the old gymnasium it was somewhere behind the Lady Cyclones bench and the scorekeepers’ table. Helton died on June 3,...

In Their Voice: Kindrick reflects on senior year, future at Alabama“God has a plan. God has a plan.” Those are the words people kept telling me, and I kept reminding myself my senior year. With plans of returning to the Class 6A state softball finals and having a senior softball season everyone always hopes for, a quick injury can change things real quick. Our softball season begins when it’s football season. We all held high expectations of the season and were working day-in and day-out to reach our dreams. ...

Applications for alligator hunt permits soon available onlineLITTLE ROCK — Arkansas alligator hunting is a unique activity, not for the timid or faint of heart. It also is an important management strategy for wildlife biologists and game managers because it helps keep populations of alligators within desired numbers. The hunting is on both public and private lands in south Arkansas, and permits specify where the hunter can seek a gator. Arkansas hunters can apply for alligator hunting permits for the 20...

The ultimate backyard hunting challengeJONESBORO — I’ve always enjoyed a challenge. That’s probably why I love to bowhunt. Deer are smart animals and getting within a few yards of them is no easy feat. I’ve recently come across a challenge of a different sort that makes killing deer with a bow seem almost easy. I’ve been hunting this creature for quite a while now. I’ve seen his tracks, seen where he’s living, where he’s eating, and where he’s obviously sleeping. I have yet to lay ...

High river flows look to benefit local fishermenOnce again, high river flows all along the Arkansas River are having an impact on fishing locally and all along the Arkansas River. Which in turn means Lake Dardanelle may once again be the beneficiary. We are very fortunate to have Lake Dardanelle and its stability on the west side of the dam. If you have not had a chance to get out and look at the water going through the lock and dam, I highly suggest you make it a point as water levels are ...

Maxwell Memorial tournament a successDANVILLE — More than 100 eager golfers appeared at the Chamberlyn Country Club for the 2015 Lt. Stan Maxwell Swinging for a Cure Memorial Golf Tournament on May 30. The golfers played through the early parts of the tournament despite rainy weather and a wet course. Before the opening tee, Pope County Sheriff Shane Jones sang the National Anthem. Afterward, instructions were given for a shotgun start the the participants were off. At the conclu...

Arkansas reaches CWS with 3-2 win over Missouri State FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (AP) — Arkansas coach Dave Van Horn said he was as relaxed as he'd ever been entering this weekend's super regional against Missouri State. He had reason to be, given how the Razorbacks had improbably recovered from a 14-14 start to the season and were two wins away from the College World Series. Led by a three-run first inning and a dominating relief appearance from closer Zach Jackson, Arkansas capped its remarkable turnar...

Hunter bags odd gobblerWhen Ronald Kinsey harvested a 20-pound turkey on May 1 in northern Pope County, he soon discovered he had something unusual on his hands. Kinsey’s turkey, which had 1-inch spurs, had four beards, each over 10 inches long. Most turkeys have only one beard, although a small percentage can grow several. Typically, they will be aligned vertically with a small gap between each. Usually, there will be the primary beard, followed by a few smaller, t...

Russellville falls to SearcySEARCY — Russellville’s American Legion baseball team took a 1-0 lead in the top of the six inning, but host Searcy answered with two runs in the bottom of the ninth and won 2-1 on Wednesday. Mark Moyer suffered the loss on the pitching mound for Russellville (1-2). He went eight innings, gave up two runs, one earned, on one hit, struck out 17 and walked two. The Patriots had nine hits, committed one error and stranded six on base. Searcy was ...

by
Courier Sports StaffThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

ATU issues statement on NCAA infractionsAs result of housing rules violations reported to the NCAA by the institution, Arkansas Tech University has self-imposed penalties and received additional sanctions. In August 2012, ATU allowed the women’s basketball program to pay the housing security deposits for four incoming and two returning student-athletes. The women’s basketball program paid the deposits from its camp budget, which caused the Office of Residence Life to report the paym...

Razorbacks hope to derail streaking BearsFAYETTEVILLE — Dave Van Horn had made reaching the NCAA Tournament almost an afterthought entering his 13th season as the coach at Arkansas. That is, until nearly midway through the season when the Razorbacks — tournament participants in each of Van Horn’s first 12 seasons — were struggling to remain over .500 and were just 1-5 in the Southeastern Conference. After a remarkable turnaround led by SEC Player of the Year Andrew Benintendi, second...

Game and Fish Notebook (June 3, 2015)Huntsville and Greenwood AYSSP squads snag west regional titles JACKSONVILLE – The fourth and final week of the Arkansas Youth Shooting Sports Program regionals have now been completed. Over 200 teams competed in this week’s AYSSP west regional tournament. Huntsville Accuracy in Motion Gold came out on top in the junior regional. The Greenwood Bulldogs Straight Shooters captured the senior title. The regional tournament was held May 29-30 at t...

Hunter takes down odd gobblerWhen Ronald Kinsey harvested a 20-pound turkey on May 1 in northern Pope County, he soon discovered he had something unusual on his hands. Kinsey’s turkey, which had 1-inch spurs, had four beards, each over 10 inches long. Most turkeys have only one beard, although a small percentage can grow several. Typically, they will be aligned vertically with a small gap between each. Usually, there will be the primary beard, followed by a few smaller, t...

Cherishing the silent bond between father and sonExperiences with my father on frosty November mornings or warm calm afternoons paddling among cypress trees are some of my most cherished memories. Tom, my father, turned 83 on Thursday, so this is a time when a stream of memories stretching across the innocence of childhood, the turbulence of adolescence and the maturing of adulthood play through my mind. As a young child, my father was a larger-than-life figure who could do no wrong. As I gr...

Summer fun with cautionAs schools begin to close all across the Arkansas River Valley, camping, swimming and fishing quickly become favorite pastimes of a good number of area residents. With all the high water we have had to begin the summer of 2015, there will be many challenges including the heat that could affect you time spent outdoors. When the temperatures and heat indexes start climbing, it is important for outdoors enthusiasts to take care of themselves. Dri...